
Teaching Notes - MTA Podcast
Teaching Notes, the Music Teachers' Association's podcast, covers all aspects of Music Education, both in the UK and beyond. Interviews with Music Teachers sit alongside chats with industry professionals and education experts. Plenty of CPD, discussion, and reports from conferences and Expos. A must-listen for every Music Teacher! Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.
Latest episodes

Apr 25, 2024 • 38min
Teaching Notes - MTA podcast - Ep.98 - Caroline Nokes MP, Oli Rose (Lang Lang Foundation), Dr James Olsen
Send us a textIn Episode 98, Patrick chats to the Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, Caroline Nokes MP, about their recent report, Misogyny in Music, looking at ways that misogyny can appear amongst school-age musicians, and its wider implications.Oli Rose, Director of Global Development for the Lang Lang Foundation, introduces their Keys of Inspiration scheme, providing whole suites of free pianos and resources to disadvantaged schools.And composer Dr James Olsen, from the Society for Music Analysis, discusses music analysis, notation, what 'musical literacy' means, and introduces the Society's forthcoming summit in July.Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.Misogyny in Music Report: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5804/cmselect/cmwomeq/129/report.htmlLang Lang Foundation: https://www.langlangfoundation.org/programs/keys-of-inspiration/Society for Music Analysis: https://www.sma.ac.ukMTA Conference: https://www.musicteachers.org/conference/© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Mar 21, 2024 • 52min
Teaching Notes - MTA podcast - Ep.97 - Mike Simpson, Kay Charlton, Nathaniel Dye
Send us a textIn Episode 97, Patrick meets Mike Simpson from Inspire Works, to talk about their Drumbeatable programme, using group drumming to help young people overcome mental health challenges, and how the power of group music has been scientifically proven to help. Trumpeter Kay Charlton chats about improvisation in lessons, whole class instrumental tuition, and her excellent new resource, Dinosaur Stomp, published by Warwick Music.And trombonist and teacher Nathaniel Dye chats about his recent award, about remaining in the classroom despite significant health challenges, running the London Marathon whilst playing the trombone, how to keep students in ensembles, and the crucial transition from Year 6 to Year 7.Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.https://www.inspire-works.co.uk/school-healthhttp://kaycharlton.co.ukhttps://bowelcancerbucketlist.com#CanDoMusic #GetPlaying #SaveOurSubjects© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Mar 14, 2024 • 41min
Teaching Notes - MTA Podcast - Ep.96 - David A Stowell, Can Do Music, David Mason (Viscount Organs)
Send us a textIn Episode 96, Patrick chats to composer David A Stowell about recent his Music & Drama Expo talk, ‘Music Composition: Tips and Tricks for those Extra Marks’, discussing the process of composition in schools.Abi Marrison (Music Mark) and Colin Stuart (ISM) talk about Can Do Music, a joint campaign with the ISM, Music Mark and the MTA, with its huge numbers of resources.And David Mason from Viscount Organs introduces the business, and chats about the recent development of technology in organs, and the ranges available for schools.Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.https://www.dastowellmusic.com/https://candomusic.orghttps://viscountorgans.net/#CanDoMusic #GetPlaying #SaveOurSubjects© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Feb 27, 2024 • 37min
Teaching Notes - MTA Podcast - Ep.95 - 2024 Music & Drama Expo Special
Send us a text**2024 MUSIC & DRAMA EXPO SPECIAL**Patrick reports from the 2024 Music & Drama Expo, chatting to exhibitors Take It Away, and Darbar Academy. Plus, interviews with two of the Expo's presenters:Deirdre Waller-Box from Brass Bands England, talking about her seminar 'Performance ready in one session'Tim Bennett-Hart, CEO of RSL Awards, discussing 'AI: the challenges and opportunities in assessment'And Patrick at the Music & Drama Awards, Patrick finds out about the work of Lifetime Achievement Award winner Sally Daunt; and goes backstage to meet the Awards' presenter, actor and author Cerrie Burnell.Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.Expo: https://www.musicanddramaeducationexpo.co.ukTake It Away: https://takeitaway.org.ukBrass Bands England: https://www.bbe.org.ukDarbar Academy: https://www.darbar.org/academyRSL: https://www.rslawards.comAwards Winners: http://tinyurl.com/MDEd2024Sally Daunt: https://twitter.com/sallydauntCerrie Burnell: https://cerrieburnell.co.uk© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Feb 8, 2024 • 36min
Teaching Notes - MTA Podcast - Ep.94 - Liz Stafford, Gill Davies, Lesley Tyler (Expo Preview)
Send us a textIn Episode 94, Patrick meets Liz Stafford, to chat about some of the big issues in Music Education today, and the forthcoming Music Education Solutions Conference.Gill Davies announces the MTA’s own Annual Conference to be held in May, including details of the trade fair, CPD, Key Note speakers, and how to get tickets.And Lesley Tyler previews her Music and Drama Education Expo seminar “A thematic enquiry curriculum for KS3”, discussing innovative ways to link all Key Stage 3 subjects in schools with a common theme.Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.https://musiceducationsolutions.co.ukhttps://www.musicteachers.org/conferencehttps://www.musicanddramaeducationexpo.co.uk© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Feb 2, 2024 • 33min
Teaching Notes - MTA Podcast - Ep.93 - Sarah McWatt (Amp), Vic Holmes (Note Weavers), Vanessa Wilson-Best
Send us a textIn Episode 93, Patrick meets Sarah McWatt from Amp (formerly NYMAZ), and Vic Holmes from Note Weavers, to discuss the work they do for primary music in the North of England, and find out about their forthcoming Early Years Music Conference, focussing on inclusivity.And Vanessa Wilson-Best explores “exclusivity at GCSE”, focussing on technology as the great leveller.Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.tinyurl.com/AmpNoteWeavershttps://www.nymaz.org.ukhttps://www.noteweavers.orghttps://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nymaz-and-note-weavers-early-years-conference-tickets-753894056417?aff=oddtdtcreator© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Jan 18, 2024 • 47min
Teaching Notes - MTA podcast - Ep.92 - Francesca Christmas & Toby Davies (Trinity College), David Gray, Robin Harrison (Maestro Online)
Send us a textIn Episode 92, Patrick chats to Francesca Christmas and Toby Davies from Trinity College London about their Awards and Certificates in Musical Development, Digital Theory Exams, AI, and more;David Gray talks about his primary curriculum, his online resources, training for primary music specialists, and makes the case for ukuleles;And Dr Robin Harrison, director of Maestro Online, introduces their masterclasses, practicing resources, and the new Pop Piano grades.Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.https://www.trinitycollege.comhttps://www.youtube.com/musicwithmrgrayhttps://www.the-maestro-online.com© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Jan 5, 2024 • 34min
Teaching Notes - MTA podcast - Ep.91 - Janet Fischer (Live Music Now), Dr Anna Mariguddi, Keith Sykes (Lewisham Music)
Send us a textIn the first episode of 2024, Patrick chats to Janet Fischer about the excellent work done by Live Music Now, bringing music to those without previous access.Dr Anna Mariguddi discusses her recent research into informal music learning in primary schools.And Keith Sykes from Lewisham Music chats about their award-winning project connecting music and young people’s mental health, Front Line Young Minds.Presented and produced any Patrick Johns.http://www.livemusicnow.org.ukhttps://research.edgehill.ac.uk/en/publications/exploring-the-potential-of-informal-music-learning-in-a-perceivedhttps://lewishammusic.org/impact/front-line-young-minds/https://vimeo.com/user185753531© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Dec 14, 2023 • 33min
Teaching Notes - MTA podcast - Ep.90 - Zac Moxon, Sarah MacDonald
Send us a textIn the last episode of 2023, Patrick meets Zac Moxon, Winner of the 2023 Outstanding New Teacher of the Year at the Pearson National Teaching Awards. They chat about his department at Chiswick School, the curriculum, and the secret to putting on over 50 concerts per year!Plus, organist, composer and Director of Music at Selwyn College, Cambridge, Sarah MacDonald, discusses Christmas carols: composing, arranging, and writing descants, plus barriers faced by female composers, choral directors and organists.Presented and produced by Patrick Johns. https://www.teachingawards.com/award-winner/zac-moxon/https://encorepublications.com/Preview/MacDonaldCarolsofourtime.pdf© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org

Dec 1, 2023 • 36min
Teaching Notes - MTA podcast - Ep.89 - Dr Kirsty Devaney, Jimmy Rotheram
Send us a textIn Episode 89, Patrick chats to Dr Kirsty Devaney about her research into barriers faced by female composers, including young people’s perception of what it means to be a composer.And Mr Primary Music Education himself Jimmy Rotheram discusses all things primary, with guidance for non-specialist teachers, including dos and don’ts.Presented and produced by Patrick Johns.https://kirstydevaney.comhttps://tinyurl.com/AddressingGenderInequalitywww.youngcomposersproject.com© Music Teachers' Association www.musicteachers.org
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